波士頓市人力發展辦公室共撥340萬元給26個社區組織

MAYOR WU, OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AWARD $3.4 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD JOBS TRUST FUNDING TO 26 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS This disbursement, the largest in the Trust’s history, is expected to serve an estimated 1,500 residents

 

BOSTON - Thursday, May 11, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) today announced the allocation of $3.4 million of Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT) funding to 26 community-based organizations across Boston’s neighborhoods. This marks the largest one-time grantmaking round in the Trust’s history and will serve approximately 1,500 Boston residents while allowing grantees to leverage $10.6 million in additional funding. The recipients were celebrated at More Than Words bookstore in the South End, an NJT grantee. Funding from the NJT supports local organizations that provide low to moderate income residents with job training and support services, enabling them to obtain higher paying jobs in diverse fields including human services, technology, hospitality, and healthcare.  “The Neighborhood Jobs Trust is a critical tool in our work to connect our residents to crucial job training and support services and ensure Boston is a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thrilled to support these critical community organizations that invest in our city’s workforce and people and look forward to their work in strengthening our communities and economy.”  “The Neighborhood Jobs Trust funding will help provide residents the opportunity for training and a pathway to a meaningful career,” said Council President Ed Flynn. “Many of the community-based organizations that are funded are neighborhood anchors that provide important language training, digital literacy, workforce development, and youth programs that are essential to our immigrant and at-risk families."  “As a trustee of the Neighborhood’s Job Trust and the Boston City Council Chair of the Labor, Workforce & Economic Development committee, our office is invested in creating workforce opportunities for our residents while strengthening our economy,” said Councilor Julia Mejia. “I am pleased that, through this funding process, we were able to apply an equity lens in the selection of our recipients. This funding cycle gets us closer to addressing the wealth gap by uplifting community-based organizations that are seeking ways to support some of our most vulnerable communities, such as English for New Bostonians and Breaktime. I am also excited to see work focused around closing the digital equity gap and helping Boston residents strive in the 21st century through the work of Tech Goes Home.”  The Neighborhood Jobs Trust is a public charitable trust replenished by linkage fees from developers of large-scale commercial projects in Boston. Since its inception, the NJT has received over $55 million in Linkage funds to support Boston’s education and workforce development efforts, with $2.8 million disbursed in fiscal year 2022. Changes to the linkage policy were approved in March of 2023. The changes include lowering the threshold and exemption from 100,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet, increasing the total linkage fee for lab uses over two years to $30.78 per square foot for lab space and to $23.09 for other commercial uses, up from $15.39. Sixteen percent of the fees will support job training and job preparedness programs, while the remaining 84 percent will support the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The increase in the fees will be phased in over two years beginning in January 2024.  "I am excited about the City's increased investment in the innovative programs our community based organizations provide," said Chief of Worker Empowerment Trinh Nguyen. "These programs enrich Boston's talent pool by connecting residents to job and skills training and support services that will enable them to obtain high paying jobs in high growth industries and growing markets."  “In 2022, the BPDA Board approved new development projected to generate approximately $7.5 million in linkage fees to support job training,” said City of Boston Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. "We're proud to continue to support the Neighborhood Jobs Trust through the work we do at the Boston Planning & Development Agency. I am hopeful that there will be even more funding to go towards high-paying, quality jobs for Bostonians, in the years to come.”  The Neighborhood Jobs Trust award recipients were selected through a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process released by the Office of Workforce Development in October 2022. This year’s grantees will provide programs that focus on careers in high growth industries and growing markets including clean energy and technology. Additionally, the programs are designed to serve individuals with barriers to employment and incorporate supportive wrap-around services.  “Mothers for Justice and Equality (MJE) is proud to partner with Mayor Wu's Office of Workforce Development on creating jobs for individuals who are dealing with chronic unemployment as a result of generational traumatic experiences,” said Monalisa Smith, Founder, President, and CEO of Mothers for Justice and Equality. “The support MJE was given from the Neighborhood Job Trust will allow us to triple the number of women served. Thank you, Mayor Wu for sharing our vision for quality human services to people of color living in underserved communities with high rates of mental health, incarceration and unemployment. Together, I believe we will make all the difference.”  "English for New Bostonians is thankful for NJT support -- this is a win for Boston's immigrant communities and a win for the city's economic prosperity,” said Claudia Green, Executive Director for English for New Bostonians. “With today's tight labor market, there's not a moment to waste. Funds will support online and in-person English classes, career coaching, job skills training, and connections with employers and entrepreneurship opportunities that promote immigrants' economic mobility."   "Access to high-quality digital devices, reliable internet service, and relevant digital skills training are all critical to helping Boston residents find and keep good jobs,” said Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home. “This funding from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust will make it possible for more than 100 new learners to participate in Tech Goes Home's proven, workforce-focused programming, where they will gain critical tools and knowledge that will expand opportunity for them, their families, and our communities. We are grateful to the City of Boston and the Office of Workforce Development for their support and partnership in our ongoing work to advance digital equity."    To view the full list of Fiscal Year 2023 NJT grant recipients, visit boston.gov/neighborhood-jobs-trust.

BPDA approves new affordable housing in Dorchester, Jamaica Plain PLAN: Mattapan wins approval

BOSTON - Thursday, May 11, 2023 - The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors this month approved two new development projects representing 201,000 square feet (SF). The new projects will create 181 residential units, 118 of which, or 65 percent will be designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 182 construction jobs and 63 permanent jobs. These projects will make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city.  Planning and Zoning BPDA Board approves PLAN: Mattapan The BPDA Board of Directors adopted the final PLAN: Mattapan planning initiative at their monthly board meeting. The adoption of the Plan comes nearly five years after the initiative began in October 2018. The plan proposes recommendations that lay the groundwork for an affordable, equitable, and resilient Mattapan: the allowance of backyard Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), mobility improvements and mixed-use zoning that will cultivate a 10-minute neighborhood, transit improvements, and promoting investment in Mattapan Square and opportunities to strengthen local businesses. Read more here. BPDA Board approves contract for the Harvard Enterprise Research Campus District and Greenway Plan The BPDA Board approved a contract with W X Y Architecture & Urban Design to design a comprehensive regulatory master plan for the 22 acres of the Harvard ERC outside of the 14 acres within Phase A and Phase B of the proposed project. As part of the mitigation and community benefits package for the Harvard ERC Phase A, that was approved by the BPDA Board on July 14, 2022, Harvard committed to fund this planning study. The Plan will be used by the BPDA and its partner agencies to determine the future land use plan for the ERC, guide review of future PDA phases, inform mitigation, refine the character and programming of the greenway, and coordinate with other neighborhood planning efforts. Development Projects Project at 900 Morrissey Boulevard will create new supportive housing in Dorchester Live: 99 studios, 100 percent income-restricted Work: Approximately 47 construction jobs, 13 permanent positions in property management and resident services Connect: Shuttle to public transportation, improving sidewalk conditions This project will redevelop what is currently a hotel into supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. The building will contain 99 compact studio units. Through a collaboration with the Pine Street Inn, “wrap around” social services will be available including on-site case managers, social activities, access to job training services, and other social service supports. Senior citizens 62 years of age and older will get preference for this housing. The project is consistent with the City of Boston’s goal of providing affordable housing for Bostonians, supporting mixed-income communities, and increasing access to opportunity through the project’s supportive services. BPDA Planning staff worked with the project to significantly improve the streetscape, pedestrian experience, and open space on site. The project will also support a shuttle for residents to public transportation. New mixed use development at 3390 Washington Street will build housing, commercial, and restaurant space Live: 82 residential units, 19 income-restricted units Work: Commercial space, restaurant space, retail space, approximately 50 permanent jobs, approximately 135 construction jobs Connect: Bicycle parking, new Bluebikes dock, new mid-block pedestrian crosswalk, new pedestrian paths Sustain: LEED Gold, all electric systems for residential portion of project Located in Jamaica Plain, this project involves two buildings that will contain the existing business – BMS Paper & Market – 82 housing units, residential amenities, and a new restaurant. The units are a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units. Of those 82 units, 23 percent will be income-restricted. The event room within the restaurant will also be available for the public to use for community meetings for free. This project will be a transit-oriented development, as it is in close proximity to the Green Street and Forest Hills MBTA stops, and has bike lanes nearby. The project will also provide much needed sidewalk and streetscape improvements on Washington Street, including a midblock crosswalk with curb extensions on both sides of the street. As part of the community benefits, the project will contribute $49,000 toward the City’s bikeshare program, and space will be provided for at least one 15-bike docking station on site.  In addition to these projects, the Board approved:  An update to a previously approved project at 4-18 Cheney Street in Dorchester for a reduction in the total unit count. An update to a previously approved project at 375 Cummins Highway for a reduction in parking spaces. An update to a previously approved project at 88 Black Falcon Avenue to split construction and renovations of the project into two phases. An update to a previously approved project at 2 H Street to add new income-restricted units. The disbursement of $100,000 to eight community organizations in the Fenway neighborhood as part of the Fenway Park Demonstration Project Community Benefits.

第13屆牛頓台灣日盛況空前 展攤、表演、遊行各出奇謀

2023牛頓台灣日參加遊行社團合影。 (周菊子攝)

 

駐波士頓台北經文處處長孫儉元 (中)和嘉賓，牛頓市市長Ruthanne
Fuller，麻州眾議員黃子安帶隊遊行。( 周菊子攝)

           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 大波士頓一年一度，今年第13屆的牛頓台灣日，5月6日在晴空萬里，氣溫華氏70多度的好天氣中登場，從早上11點到下午3點，人潮川流不息，會場一度人擠人的舉步維艱，熱鬧程度創歷年紀錄。

右起，駐波士頓台北經文處處長孫儉元和牛頓市市長Ruthanne Fuller，麻州
眾議員黃子安，波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，牛頓台灣日籌備會主委蔣宗壬，
紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝等人和僑胞們在活動開始前，先舉行
中華民國國旗升旗典禮。(周菊子攝)

              來到活動現場的民眾，不但看到升旗典禮，遊行，26個團體擺出49個攤位，展售各種台灣小吃、美食，介紹各社團現狀、特色，還有中華民俗藝術工作坊，中華廣教學校，Bailemos 舞蹈工作室，李芝芳太極拳，黃郁維及小鹿音樂，黃正昇醫生校園民歌集錦，陳秀惠老師Nia帶動跳，黃崇校創辦的大波士頓 You & Me流行音樂樂團等8段表演節目可欣賞。

牛頓台灣日嘉賓們合影。左起，紐英崙龍岡親義公所主席關麗莎，
世界鳳倫公所會長司徒宗達，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，紐英崙
中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓僑務委員郭競儒、陳仕維及夫人鍾珮玲
，牛頓市市長Ruthanne Fuller，麻州眾議員黃子安，牛頓台灣日籌備會
主委蔣宗壬，駐波士頓台北經文處處長孫儉元和蔣宗壬夫人史美芳，
麥德福市議員曾御宸。 (周菊子攝)

                         許多人驚喜表示，天氣這麼好，新舊朋友、表演節目、台灣美食這麼多，這天實在太幸福了。從波士頓慈濟的14樣台灣蔬食，台灣媽媽親子會的大腸包小腸，You & Me的猛男炸雞排和蘿蔔糕，中華專協的古早味粉漿蛋餅和車輪餅，紐英崙客家鄉親會創會會長林岱親手做的紅豆艾草糕、客家豬籠粄，台灣基督教長老教會準備的小番茄夾蜜餞，波士頓台灣人醫師協會的現榨檸檬愛玉，波士頓台灣龍舟隊的滷肉飯，不少人吃不下這麼多，索性打包，額外買幾份地把” 台灣味道” 帶回家。

波士頓台灣影展的六月初一蛋捲、阿原香皂、沁園台灣茶、薑心比心護手霜等台灣原裝進口「獨家伴手禮」，波士頓北一女校友會專程從台灣運來的鳳梨酥，擺出的各種台灣零食和校友梁雅惠親手做的手工藝品，海外青年大使協會(FASCA)會長許凱菲等人擺出來的布袋戲等，也都十分受歡迎。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮和三太子一起遊行。(周菊子攝)

                          紐英崙中華專協有麻省理工學院博士生陳孟圻提供的車輪餅機器，讓人可以吃到現做的台灣小吃車輪餅，You&Me樂隊有Raymond Huang、鄧凱瑋、蘇肖恩等幾名大男生現炸雞排，台灣媽媽親子會會長張惠雯和媽媽們做的"大腸包小腸"，更是吸引出排隊人龍。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，牛頓市市長Ruthanne Fuller，麻州眾議惠亞裔核心小組主席員黃子安，麥德福市市議員曾御宸，海德社區主任John Rice，牛頓台灣日籌委會主委蔣宗壬，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，陳仕維等嘉賓和波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮經司儀吳萍萍、朱蘇珊介紹，一一在台上致詞。

You & Me 樂隊表演後，牛頓台灣日圓滿結束，和嘉賓們一起比讚。(周菊子攝)

                      全美洪門致公堂總理余麗媖之外，甫於4月當選世界鳳倫公所會長的司徒宗達，這天和紐英崙龍岡親益公所主席關麗莎，也聯袂到場與盛。

                            經文處處長孫儉元全程以英語致詞，感謝台灣鄉親及地方居民出席盛會，欣賞、享受台灣的文化與美食。他指出，在新冠病毒肆虐各地之際，世界也看到台灣晶片產量驚人，高佔全球65%，驚覺台灣重要。他強調台灣是一個愛好和平的國家，雖然小，卻很有潛力，還有非常完整，最沉浸式的學習中文環境。

麻州眾議員黃子安 (中) 特地探問牛頓台灣日的醫師團。 (周菊子攝)

                           牛頓市市長Ruthanne Fuller看到擠滿人的會場，有點激動的說，” We are so proud to host the 13^th Newton Taiwan Day (我們非常驕傲能夠舉辦這第13屆牛頓台灣日)” ，還打趣的問是誰讓這天的天氣那麼好。

黃子安透露，他曾經到台灣進修3年，還娶回一位美嬌娘。這天他特地送上一份由麻州眾議會議長，代表牛頓市的眾議員Kay Khan等人一起簽名的表揚狀。

波士頓慈濟的師兄師姐們親手做出14樣梳食來為牛頓台灣日打氣。 (周菊子攝)

                          去年剛從哈佛大學畢業的牛頓市議員曾御宸說，他的父母來自台灣，在他小時候，每年都帶他回台灣見祖父母，讓他認識到台灣的文化，風景及美食。他要說台灣是他的一部分。如今他雖然比較忙，但仍非常高興有機會和台灣人及政府互動，台灣不但把歡愉帶給世界，在美國遭遇疫情時，台灣也來幫忙，如今台灣面對自己的挑戰，”我們當然應該加強宣傳，讓人們像你，我一樣的更認識台灣”。

在開幕式的嘉賓致詞中，波士頓的2名僑務委員郭競儒、陳仕維，以及波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮依序以英語、廣東話、國語發言，展現了在美國華人社區辦活動也非常多元化。

              當天紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝還利用機會宣佈，9月16日將舉辦”台灣夜市”活動，You & Me流行音樂樂團也預告，6月11日將舉辦音樂會，中華民俗藝術工作坊宣傳5月28日有2場「天地人和」表演，請大家支持。 (更新版)

Raymond Huang (中) 、鄧凱瑋、蘇肖恩為You&Me樂隊
擺出「猛男炸雞排」攤位。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓北一女校友會會長饒雨涵，副會長林麗珠(中)等
熱心校友駐守攤位。 (周菊子攝)

陳玉瑛(左四)和麻州元極舞健身會的夥伴們一起擺攤。 (周菊子攝)

海外青年大使協會會長許凱菲(中)和會員們擺出布袋戲攤位。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右三)到紐英崙客家鄉親會攤位探望。

陳秀惠帶跳Nia舞，貸出現場活力。(周菊子攝)

黃正昇醫師演唱。 (周菊子攝)

剛搬到波士頓3個月的韋子祈，特地穿上印有國旗的T恤到場，
藉以引人注目，認識新朋友。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓台灣影展共同會長李宜庭(右)和顧問林嘉賢
一大早趕到會場佈置場地。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓台灣龍舟隊。

新英格蘭台灣學聯。

紐英崙中華專業人員協會。

台灣世衛協進會

波士頓台美菁英會 (TAP)

新英格蘭台灣商會。

中華語文學校

麻州牛頓元極舞健身會。

波士頓北一女校友會出動青龍助陣。

大波士頓台灣基督長老教會

波士頓台灣人醫師協會

波士頓海外青年大使協會。

波士頓海外青年大使協會。

紐英倫客家鄉親會。

紐英崙客家鄉親會。

菩提禪修會。

麻州中部中文學校

輔仁校友會和政大校友會。

中華民俗藝術工作坊舞龍。

管弦樂團。

加州企業家賴正光捐款一億 麻州BWH等3醫療機構成立「賴正光免疫學及炎症研究所 」

BWH 繼5月9日在官網上公佈獲得賴正光捐款一億元後，
10日再上推特公告。 (圖片取自推特)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 布里根及婦女醫院 (BWH) 9日宣佈，獲得該機構有史以來最大的一筆捐款，一億美元，將用於和麻省總醫院 (MGH)，以及哈佛醫學院 (HMS) 一起，由3機構聯手成立「賴正光免疫學及炎症研究所 (The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation) 」。

捐出這筆款項的人是1987年來美，2002年在加州聖地牙哥創辦百進生技 (BioLegend) ，成為世界最大抗體試劑供應商的賴正光，一位來自台灣苗栗西湖的成功企業家。

賴正光的百進生技，專注開發及生產高品質細胞免疫，發炎，癌症，幹細胞抗體，以及研究診斷所需試劑，2019年時已有員工超過500人，子公司遍佈日本、德英法荷等國家，2020年還進駐台灣竹北生醫園區，設立佔地千坪的研發中心。

「賴正光免疫學及炎症研究所 (The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and
Inflammation) 」將由3大機構攜手合作。 (圖片來自 BWH網站)

2021年時，總部在麻州華森市 (Waltham)的生命科學巨頭PerkinElmer Inc.，以股票組合加現金的共52.5億美元，收購了百進生技，2023年5月，百進生技被併進PerkinElmer Inc.分成2各公司之後的Revvity旗下的創新研發中心。

新成立的「賴正光免疫學及炎症研究所 (The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation) 」，將由BWH的免疫學家暨首席調研員Vijay Kuchroo博士擔任首屆所長，哈佛醫學院免疫系主任Arlene Sharpe，以及麻省總醫院綜合生物學暨計算中心主任Ramnik Xavier兩人擔任副所長。

營運重心放在3方面，分別是基本科學、轉譯科學 (translational science)，以及科技。主要研究領域包括基礎免疫疾病，老齡，癌症及新免疫療法知識的了解及轉譯。

賴正光在2022年10月27日時，也捐了2500萬元，支持加州大學聖地牙哥分校 (UCSD)的生物工程系，並藉這筆捐款項奠定該校該系基礎的錢煦教授，該系也從此一名為「錢煦-賴正光生物工程系」。

BWH董事長Robert S. D. Higgins 為這筆捐款，還上Fox 25接受訪問。

在大波士頓，捐贈巨資，或在業界成就斐然，讓學府以樓宇命命表達感謝，較為人知的，前有2014年9月，晨星基金捐款3億五千萬元，把哈佛大學的公衛學院改名為哈佛大學陳曾熙公衛學院，2015年時，麻省理工學院把E52大樓改名為張宗謀及張淑芬大樓(Morris and Sophie Chang Buildin)，哈佛商學院趙朱木蘭中心，2021年9月，陳樂宗的晨興基金捐款一億7500萬元，把位於屋斯特 (Worcester) 麻州大學醫學院改名為麻州大學陳氏醫學大學 (UMass Chan Medical S)，其麾下的3個研究所，也改名為陳曾皙醫學院，陳譚慶芬護理研究所，以及晨星生物醫藥科學研究所。2022年4月，麻省理工學院把最新的奈米大樓，改為以超微 (AMD)執行長蘇姿丰命名的蘇姿丰大樓 (Lisa T. Su building)。年代更早的還有為紀念唐千騮的麻省工學院唐氏中心 (Tang Center)。